‘Like dropping a good friend’: colic claims the lifetime of sensible police horse

Officers at Avon and Somerset Police have paid tribute to the “cheeky” however sensible police horse Blaise, who has died aged 15.

The stalwart of the Avon and Somerset mounted department, who had been with the power since 2018, suffered a sudden bout of colic and couldn’t be saved.

A spokesman for the power mentioned: “PH Blaise was 15 years previous when he sadly died after getting colic. He had been with Avon and Somerset Police for 5 years, spending three years together with his rider PC Amy Glew.

“PH Blaise is described as a cheeky character who grew to become a mentor to the youthful horses within the mounted division. He was a superb horse who cherished to mess around however when he began working, he would do precisely as we educated him to do.

“He has labored a lot of soccer video games, festivals comparable to Glastonbury and was one of many horses deployed in the course of the Bristol riot, which occurred exterior Bridewell police station in spring 2021. He was an enormous a part of the group and will likely be sorely missed by everybody.”

PC Glew informed ITV information she was on maternity depart when the riot broke out in 2021, so one other officer was using Blaise, who “actually confirmed what a superb police horse he was”, demonstrating his bravery as he took the whole lot in his stride.

The Avon and Somerset Police mounted part was honoured in 2021 with the primary ever Police Horse and Officer Motion of the 12 months award, which was offered on the final night time of the Horse of the 12 months Present that October.

“What our officers and horses skilled have been ranges of violence like nothing that they had seen earlier than,” mentioned chief superintendent Claire Armes, head of operational assist directorate at Avon and Somerset Police, on the time.

“The braveness and resilience they displayed was a credit score to their characters, their coaching and to the excellent bonds of loyalty and belief that our officers have constructed with their horses.

“Our police horses have performed a significant function in each single public order incident in Avon and Somerset within the final 30 years, serving to us include and handle main incidents, shield the general public and stop accidents. They’re, past doubt, a massively useful asset to our service.”

Police sergeant Hannah Clarke had mentioned the riots have been the strongest aggression she had ever skilled in her profession, and that the horses – Mendip, Somerset, Windsor, Trinity, Blaise and Clevedon – have been “simply superb”.

After Blaise’s loss of life, PC Glew informed ITV: “It’s like dropping a good friend, a companion. We’ve misplaced a extremely good police horse however we’ve additionally misplaced one of many group. It’s simply actually, actually unhappy.”

You may also be fascinated by:

Horse & Hound journal, out each Thursday, is filled with all the most recent information and experiences, in addition to interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and coaching recommendation. Discover how one can take pleasure in the journal delivered to your door each week, plus choices to improve your subscription to entry our on-line service that brings you breaking information and experiences in addition to different advantages.

H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Captivated with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all features of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of selection is showjumping, through which she competes her personal horses, and she or he additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping exhibits by means of to worldwide championships.